Bremer County EQIP

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a voluntary conservation program of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) that promotes agricultural production and environmental quality. This program is available to farmers and offers financial and technical assistance to install or implement structural and management practices on eligible agricultural land.

The following are Bremer County resource concerns to be addressed by EQIP:

Water Quality Degradation - Pesticides in Surface Water; Pesticides in Groundwater; Nutrients in Surface water; Nutrients in Groundwater; Excess Pathogens and Chemicals from Manure, Bio-solids or Compost Applications in Surface Water; Excess Pathogens and Chemicals from Manure, Bio-solids or Compost Applications in Groundwater; Excessive Sediment in Surface Water

These resource concerns address the following National EQIP priorities:

Reduction of non-point pollution, such as nutrients, sediment, pesticides, or excess salinity in impaired watersheds consistent with Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs), where available, as well as the reduction of groundwater contamination and the conservation of ground and surface water resources.

Reduction in soil erosion and sedimentation from unacceptable high levels on agricultural land.

The goal of the locally led group was to recommend a ranking system that rewarded and gave priority to those producers that address the above resource concerns that reduce soil erosion on cropland and improve water quality through livestock manure storage systems. The ranking will be completed for the specific practices to be applied through the EQIP contract. Sign-up is continuous at the NRCS field office. Application ranking will be done periodically as funding allocations become available, will be announced through the NRCS State Office, and will be publicized by all levels of NRCS. The NRCS may establish local, minimum ranking cut-off levels for funding selection.

The local work group also recommended a list of conservation practices that are the most cost-effective, longest duration and address these priority resource concerns in the district.

For more information on EQIP and other NRCS administrated programs contact the Bremer County USDA Service Center located at 1510 3rd Street SW, Waverly, IA 50677. Phone: (319) 352-4037 ext. #3.